Automatic desk for the disabled



Aug. 7, w62 G. W. PETERSON 3,048,46

AUTOMATIC DESK FOR THE DISABLED Filed Feb. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1upf@ H g4 IM se /fd M5@ i INVENTOR BY Mwy ATTORNEY` ug 7, 3952 G. w.PETERSQN 390428,4@1

AUTDMATIC DESK FDR :mr: DISABLED Filed Feb. 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Shed'l 2INVENTOR famo/v )fg/'mmm BY Wwf@ ATTORNEYS ug. 7, 1962 G. W. PETERSONAUTOMATIC DESK FOR THE DISABLED 3 Sheeizs--Sheei'I 3 F'led Feb. 18, 1959ATTORNEYS ite This invention relates to desks and, more specifically, toan automatic desk for use by the disabled.

There has been a vast amount of intensive effort eS- pecially sinceWorld War II, in the field of occupational therapy and efforts toconvert the lives of seriously disabled and invalid persons from thestatus of total 1nactivity to that lof competitive productivity. As aresult of these efforts, numerous mechanical aids have been devisedwhich, in one form or another, serve to compensate for the invalidsdisability and enable him to engage in productive activity to earn alivelihood.

Despite the great mass of such devices which have been developed, therehas not 'been developed heretofore a suitable work table or desk for useby those who are seriously or almost totally disabled in the use oflimbs and hands, as by paralysis, but still possess full mental powers.As a result, such persons who could otherwise be productive are forcedto remain idle.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novelautomatic desk or table including means enabling a partial or totalinvalid, such as a paralytic, to perform work usefully and competitivelyso that he may earn a living, and enjoy the therapeutic beneiit of workas well.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a novel desk or worktable for use by the disabled:

(l) which is compact, of relatively simple construction, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture for what it will accomplish;

(2) which is designed to permit access thereto by an invalid cont-inedto a wheel-chair;

(3) which is so constructed that articles placed there- .on andfacilities connected therewith become readily accessible to aywheel-chair-coniined invalid using the desk without requiring him tomove from the wheel-chair or to appreciably move his arms;

(4) which is provided with remotely controlled desk trays which areelectrically movable from a remote, outof-the-way position on the desktop to positions at which they will be accessible to awheelchair-confined invalid using the desk;

(5) which is provided `with remotely controlled, electrically actuatedmeans for making a telephone extension accessible to `awheel-chair-coniined invalid;

(6) which is provided with a recess along its front edge to permit entrythereinto of a lap-board and wheelchair control box, said lap-boardbecoming contiguous to the top of said desk;

(7) which is provided with a central control panel whereby components ofthe desk such as movable trays, phone, etc., can be utilized even 'by `aparalyzed person having limited motion only in one hand.

These and other objects `of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description, discussion and appended claimstaken in connection with the accompanying i rawings, showing a preferredstructure and embodiment, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of the novel automatic desk for invalidsaccording to this invention showing, in addition to details of the desktop, the relationship between the desk top and a lap-board and control`box secured to a wheel-chair in which the user of the invalid desk will`be sitting;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation View of said invalid desk;

3,048,461 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 FIGURE 3 is a View looking up at thebottom of the desk top of said invalid desk;

FGURE 4 is a sectional view of one of the cabinets of said invalid desktaken along the line 4--4 in FIG- URE l;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are bottom views of novel desk trays usable with saidinvalid desk; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 8 of FIGURE l (seealso line 8-8 in FIG- URE 7), showing details of a guide shaft used inconnection with said novel desk trays.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the novel invalid desk of thisinvention comprises two laterally spaced, opstanding cabinets Ztl and2,1, each of which has sides 22 and a bottom 24. A single back panel 26extends between both cabinets yand accordingly serves as a back foreach. Each of the cabinets 2t) and 21 is supported at its bottom 2.4 bya leg support 32 which is located midway between the sides of saidbottom and which extends longitudinally thereof substantially throughoutits length. It desired, adjustable `leg supports can be provided topermit variation in the height of desk top 34. Cabinet 2t) is providedwith a unitary front panel Vertically hinged at the left (see FIGURE 2).Cabinet 21 contains a lower drawer 33 slidably mounted within cabinet 21and an upper drawer 31, whose front panel 30 may be hinged at its bottomto the bottom edge of said drawer 31.

Resting on the tops of cabinets 20, 21 and the top edge of back panel 26is desk top 34, which is provided with three long, narrow through-slots36, 38 and 40. Slot 36 has its outer end near the far left hand cornerof desk top 34, extends a substantial portion of its length parallel tothe rear edge 42 of the desk top, and then curves inwardly toward thefront edge 5t) of said top from a point slightly short of itslongitudinally central portion to a point slightly beyond that portionand approximately midway between the front 50 and the rear 42 of saidtop.

Slot 3S is similar to slot 36 in its general configuration, thoughdiffering slightly as to detail. Thus, slot 38 starts at a point nearthe far right hand corner of desk top 34, extends parallel to rear edge42 of said top for a short distance, curving inwardly toward the frontedge Si? of the top like slot 36. The straight portion of slot 33 isdisplaced a slightly greater distance than is slot 36 from the rear edge42 of said top though its curved portion 44 is closer to the right side46 of said top than slot 36 is to left side 48.

Slot 4d is linear and extends from a point near the right edge 46 of thedesk top toward the longitudinal center thereof along a line parallel tofront and rear edges 50 and 42 approximately midway between said edges.

Desk top 34 has a rectangular cut-out 52 to permit entry thereinto of alap-board S3 on a wheel-chair (not shown), lap-board 53 being the sameheight as desk top 34 and adapted to become contiguous to the top. Asshown in FIGURE l, lap-board 53 is not as wide as the cut-out portion 52with which it mates, for a reason which will become apparent as thisdescription proceeds.

Secured to the wheel-chair adjacent the left side of lap-board 53 is acontrol box 55 which controls movement of the electrically operatedwheel-chair by the left hand of the operator. When lap-board 53 iscontiguous with desk top 34 (as shown in FIGURE 1), control box 55 willbe situated immediately beneath a horizontal panel 56 which is normallyHush with desk top 34 but is hinged for pivotal movement at 58, and hasa front edge S7 either rounded or bevelled from the top front edgetowards a point inwardly displaced on the underside of panel 56.

Desk top 34 is pro-vided with a cut-out 60 in which may be mountedvarious controls such as telephone dial 62,

the starting bar 64 of a dictating machine, and push buttons 66 fortrays, etc. Openings 68 are also provided near opening 60 for themounting of pen and pencil holders and the like. Through-slot 70 isprovided on the right side of rectangular opening 52 and partiallyrearward thereof, and serves to permit passage therethrough of tissuesfrom a tissue dispenser 71 situated immediately beneath it on theunderside of desk top 34. An oval through-slot 72 is provided adjacentthe left edge of opening 52 with its major axis at an angle ofapproximately thereto, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

Details of the operating mechanism of the instant desk are shown inFIGURE 3, which, as aforesaid, is a view of desk top 34 looking up atsaid desk top from the bottom side thereof.

Slide bars 74, 76 and 78, used in cooperation with slots 36, 38 and 40,respectively, are each secured to the back of desk top 34, spacedslightly therefrom by any suitable means, such as mounting brackets orblocks and screws. In a typical embodiment, slide bars 74, 76 and 78 areparallel to the rear face of desk top 34' and displaced therefromapproximately 1 inch. Slide bar 74 is disposed at a slight angle to themain linear portion of slot 36 so that the left end of bar 74 projectsslightly beyond and outside said linear portion of slot 36, with therightmost portion :of said bar extending across the linear portion ofslot 36 and beyond the curved portion thereof (as shown in FIGURE 3).Mounted for 4reciprocating sliding movement on slide bar 74 is slidesupport 80. Rigidly mounted to slide support 80 and extendingperpendicularly out from either side of slide bar 74, between said barand desk top 34, is a slotted member 82. Drive pulley 84 and idlerpulley 86 are rotatably mounted on the bottom face of desk top 34 ateither end of slide bar 74.` Wire 88 is pulled taut around pulleys 84and 86 and extends for a portion of its length directly under slide bar74, being secured at its ends to opposite sides of slide support r80. Areversible electric motor 81 is provided to rotate drive pulley 84 ineither direction and correspondingly adjust the position of slidesupport 80 on slide bar 74. Limit switches 75, provided near each end ofslot 36, are adapted to be actuated by slotted member 82 as said membertraverses said switches in the course of its movement along said slot.These switches are designed to stop motor 81 when slide support 80approaches either end of slot 36.

Slide bar 76 is similarly mounted across slot 38. Slide bar 76, slidesupport 90, slotted member 92 and slot 38 correspond in structure andrelationship to one another with previously described slide bar '74,slide support 80, slotted member 82 and slot 36. A wire 94 is pulledtaut around idler pulleys 96 and 98 and drive pulley 100, with its endssecured to drive support 90, like the ends of wire 88 are secured toslide support 80. A rreversible electric motor 99 for rotating drivepulley 100 is also provided, as well as limit switches 77 near each endof slot 3S.

Slide bar 78 is similarly positioned relative to slot 40, but liesdirectly over the entire length of slot 40, inasmuch as it is linear.Slide support 102, which is slidably mounted on slide bar 78, has acentral aperture 103 in its face disposed between bar 7 8 and theunderside of desk top 34. Wound taut around idler pulleys 104 and 106,and around drive pulley 108, is a wire 110, which is secured at its endsto opposite sides of slide support 102. A reversible electric motor 112is operatively associated with drive pulley 108 to impart movement tothe wire 110 and, accordingly, to slide support 102. Limit switches 79are provided near each end of slot 40 and are adapted to be actuatedwhen traversed by tab 81 during the course of movement of slide support102 toward either end of slot 40.

The significance of the foregoing details of the structure of theunderside of desk top 34 will be more apparent 4 from the ensuingdescription of the desk trays 114, 116 and 118 (see FIGURES l, 5, 6 and7), used in the novel desk of the instant invention.

Details of the bottom portions of trays 114, 116 and 118 are shown inFIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8. Tray 114, which is shown in FIGURE 7, has fixedto its bottom face two plates 146 and 148, one near the front right handcorner, the other near the left rear corner. Projecting outwardly fromeach of plates 146 and 148 are like shafts 150 and 152, respectively,shaft 152 being somewhat longer than shaft 150. Rotatably mounted onshaft 152 is a plastic bushing 154 with an outer diameter only slightlyless than the width of slot 36. Vertically supporting plastic bushing154 on shaft 152 is a nut 156 which is mounted on threaded portion 158of shaft 152. End r160 of shaft 152 projects beyond nut 156 for a reasonto be discussed below.

As aforesaid, shaft 150 is somewhat shorter than shaft 152, but has alike plastic bushing 154 similarly rotatably mounted on it at about thesame height as plastic bushing 154 on shaft 152, by means of nut 164secured to a short threaded portion on the end of shaft 50. Mountedapproximately midway along each of the bottom edges of tray 114 areroller bearings 168, which are of such size that the outermost portionof each roller bearing is a distance away from the bottom of the trayapproximately equal to the distance between the topmost portions ofplastic bushings `154 and the bottom of said tray.

In use, the longer shaft 152 of tray 114 is inserted down into yslot 36so that it projects into the longitudinal slot in slotted member 82.Shaft 152 is of such length that it projects down into and slightlybeyond the longitudinal slot 83 of slotted member 82 when the rollerbearings 168 are resting upon the desk top 34. The outer diameter ofshaft 152 is such that suflicient tolerance is provided between saidshaft and the sides of the longitudinal slot in slotted member 82 topermit relative movement between them. Also, nut 156 is so positioned onshaft 152 to support plastic bushing 154 at a level on shaft 152 so thatwhen roller bearings 168 are res-ting on desk top 34 the bushing isdisposed between the sides of slot 36 with the bushing top substantiallylevel with the upper surface of desk top 34.

Shaft 150 is also inserted in slot 36, and the plastic bushing 154thereon is similarly positioned on shaft 150 by nut 164 so that whenroller bearings 168 are resting on desk top 34 the top of said plasticbushing is just level Iwith desk top 34. It will (be noted 4that due tothe positioning of shafts 150 and 152 relative to one another and totray 114, the tray is disposed on desk top 34 at an angle to back edge42 of the desk top (see FIGURE 1).

The bottom faces of desk trays 116 and 118 are equipped similarly tothat of desk tray 114, with two plates, two shafts (one long, oneshort), a plastic bushing on each shaft, 4a nut on each shaft supportingsaid plastic bushings, and roller bearings. As in the case of desk tray114, the longer shaft on desk tray 116 projects down into a longitudinalslot 93 in slotted member 92 on slide support 90, with the other shaftand bushing thereon merely projecting down into slot 38 to serve as aguide.

The longer shaft on tray 118 projects down through slot 40 into theaperture 103 on the slide support 102. The shorter shaft also projectsinto slot 40 but, as in the case of the shorter shaft on trays 114 and116, merely `serves as a guide for tray 118.

The desk tray 114 is conventional insofar las it is generallyrectangular in shape and consists of a bottom panel, two sides, and anend, the tray being open at its other end. Vertical dividing partitionsand 122 can be provided to divide tray 114 into three equal,longitudinal compartments 124. Situated in each of compartments 124 is aslidable tray 126 which consists of a sideless, elongatel flat sheet ofmetall or the like having an upward projection 128 at its end which isof a height substantially equal to the height of the end of the desktray. While the width of each of slidable trays 126 is substantiallyequal to the width of the compartment 124 in which it sits (it will beof a slightly lesser width to permit the sliding of the slidable trayrelative to desk tray 114), the length of each slidable tray 126 isslightly greater than the corresponding length of its compartment 124 toprovide -a handle 130, which may be used to move slidable trays 126 inand out of said compartment. An aperture 132 is provided in eachprojection of slidable trays 126 to facilitate withdrawal of said trays.

Insofar as a plan view of tray 116 is concerned (as in FIGURE l), tray116 is identical to tray 114 except that, as shown in the drawings, theformer is larger.

Tray 11,8, however, merely consists of a substantially rectangular boxhaving a bottom panel 134, -with a side panel 136 and a shortened sidepanel 138, an end panel 140 and a shortened end panel 142. One corner ofdesk tray 118 has been out off, thus providing easier access to theinterior of said tray through opening 144.

In FIGURE 4, details are shown of the novel construction employed tofacilitate use of a telephone. Mounted within cabinet is a verticalslide bar 17 0 which is rigidly secured at its top and bottom relativeto the desk by any suitable means. Vertical slide bar 170 is locatedapproximately centrally between the sides 22 of cabinet 20 andapproximately the same distance from the front edge 50 of desk top 34 asis oval slot 72. Slidably mounted on vertical slide bar 170 is aslide-support 172. Iournalled for rotation through a 180 axis ofrotation between bifurcated projection 174 on slide support 172 is atelephone support bar holder 176, which is provided with an axialcentral bore (not shown) for receiving a telephone support bar 178.Pulled taut about idler pulleys 180 and 182 and drive pulley 184 is awire 186 which is attached to slide support 172 at opposite ends. Areversible electric motor 18S is operatively connected to drive pulley184 for displacement of wire 186 and slide-support 172. Rigidly mountedon slide bar 170 at a point near its top is a rubber stop 190, to limitthe upward movement of slide-support 172. A limit switch (not shown)similar to switches 75, 77 and 79, provided near each end of slide bar170, is adapted to be actuated by slide-support 172 as it traverses theswitch in the course of its movement along slide bar 170. As in the caseof the other switches, these switches are designed to stop motor 138when slide-support 172 approaches either end of slide bar 179.

Rotataibly mounted immediately beneath slot 72 in desk top 34 are a pairof pulleys 192, for locating and supporting the free end 194 oftelephone support bar 17S. Mounted on the free end of telephone supportbar 178 is a telephone holder 194, which supports a conventionaltelephone unit including an earpiece 196 and mouthpiece 19S.

In operation the desk functions as follows: The person using the desk,sits in his wheel-chair (not shown) with his left hand atop control box5S (shown schematically), which projects slightly outwardly in front andto the left side of the wheel-chair lap-board 53, and presses thecontrol button which actuates the wheel-chair drive mechanism,propelling the wheel-chair forward toward cut-out 52 in the centralportion of the desk front. As the wheelchair lap-board S3 moves forwardinto the right-most portion of cut-out 52 the operators left hand abutsthe rounded or bevelled front edge of hinged panel 56, causing saidpanel to pivot upwardly about its hinges 58, and ride up over theoperators hand. When the front edge 200 of the wheel-chair ylap-boardabuts the `front edge 202 of cutout 52, the control box 55 is situateddirectly under the front portion of panel 56. Since the height from thetloor of the top of control box 55 is less than that of the lower edgeof panel 56, panel 56 pivots about its hinges 58 to a horizontalposition diush with the surface of desk top 34 when the operator removeshis hand from the control box and up through the opening between theleft edge of the wheel-chair lap-board and the adjacent side of cut-out`52.

Desk trays 114, 116 and 118 are separately controlled by individualcircuits so that each desk tray may be moved to its forward positionindependently of the others, without jamming into one of the others.When it is desired to utilize any one of the trays, the particularcontrol button 66 which actuates the system controlling movement of thattray is depressed, closing the circuit and actuating the associatedreversible electric motor, resulting in movement of the associated drivewire, which in turn moves the slide-support 812, or 92, or 162 along theslide bar on which it is mounted. In the case of desk tray 118, itmerely moves parallel to slot 40 toward the center of the desk. As isapparent, the plastic bushings 154 on the shafts 152 attached to thebottom of tray 118, guide the tray in the slot 40. When each of the desktrays approaches the end of its guiding slot, the slotted member (812and 92, respectively, in the case of trays 114 and 116) or tab 81 (asthe case may be) will actuate a limit switch and stop its associatedmotor. The trays will thus come to rest at the end of the slot in whichit is moving. Actuation of this switch may also serve to reverse themotor associated therewith for movement of each tray in the oppositedirection.

The operation of trays 114 and 116, however, is slightly different thanthat involved in the case of tray 1-18. As described above, each ofthese trays is mounted with the two bushings 154 on the underside ofeach tray received in slots 36 and 38, respectively; the end of longershaft 152 at the rear of each of trays 114 and '116 projects into slot83 and 93, respectively, in slotted members 82 and 92. Whenslide-support is at the left end of slide bar 74 (as shown in FEGURE 3),shaft 152 is disposed in longitudinal slot 83 of member 82 near thefront edge 50 of desk top 34. As slide-support 80` proceeds toward theother end of slide bar 74, upon rotation of motor -pulley 84, shaft 152,which is restricted to movement within slot 36, slides toward theopposite end of the slot 83 in member 82, thereby permitting bushings154 on the underside of the tray to travel in curved slot 36. Movementof shaft 152 toward the opposite end of slot 83 in slide member 82(i.e., to the lower end of member 82 as shown in FIGURE 3) is at amaximum where slot 36 begins to arc toward front edge 50 of desk top 34and bar 7 4 crosses the arc of slot 36. At that point, shaft 152 willbegin to ride back toward the other end of slotted member 82 and willcontinue to so move until the tray reaches its limit of forwardmovement. Since, as aforesaid, tray 1114 is disposed at an angle to backedge 42 of the desk top, the open front of this tray will be facing theuser of the desk when the tray is at its forward limit of movement.

The operational movement of tray 116 is identical to that of tray 114and therefore need not be discussed in any greater detail.

The operaton of the telephone support mechanism is similar to that ofthe desk trays in that movement of the telephone is brought about bymeans of a moving slidesupport on a rigid slide `bar (see FIGURE 4).When the button actuating the drive mechanism in the telephone supportsystem is pressed, slide-support 172 moves upwardly on slide bar 170. Asslide-support 172 rises, telephone support bar holder 176 and bar 178pivot about the point of attachment of holder 176 in bifurcatedprojection 174, with pulleys 192 providing for free movement oftelephone support bar 178 through oval slot 72 in desk top 34. As can beclearly seen from the dotted line drawing in FIGURE 4, as telephonesupport har holder 176 and telephone support bar 178 rotate away fromslide bar 170, the telephone earpiece 196 and mouthpiece 198 moveupwardly and inwardly toward the center of the desk and, accordingly,toward the person sitting at the desk. When upward movement of slide bar172 ceases through actuation of the limit switch by slide-support 172,as described above, the telephone unit will be positioned adjacent theusers head so that he can easily speak into and hear out of saidtelephone. To serve this purpose, telephone support bar 178 may Ibecurved, instead of straight as shown in FIGURE 4.

While the electric motors used in the novel desk of the instantinvention have been described generally as reversible, it is to 'beunderstood that various types of drive mechanisms may 4be used.Alternatively to the use of limit switches, a system including asequence switch having a forward, neutral and reverse position (actuatedeach time the operating button is pressed) may be utilized. Suchoperating systems are, of course, merely illustrative of circuits whichmay be used. The disclosed preferred system utilizes a reversing motorsuch as manufactured by Gleason Avery Inc., of Auburn, New York, Model5502C-3. Also, it is to be understood that the electrical wiring used inthe instant desk is completely conventional.

Similarly, additional features maybe added, or existing featuresmodified, to compensate for individual patterns of reach and strength ofeach individual user. Lamps, waste paper slots, additional trays, a P.A.system, electrical outlets, etc., may be built into my novel deskwithout changing the basic nature thereof. Formica strips or theequivalent may `be inlaid into the desk top under the locus of movementof the roller bearings on the desk trays to prevent wear of the desktop, or the entire desk top may be covered with such a material.

Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment of this invention has beenheretofore described as containing a driving mechanism including slidebars, slide supports, drive wires, etc., it is within the scope of theinstant invention to use drive mechanisms other than the foregoing. Forexample, instead of having the drive mechanism on the underside of thedesk top as previously described, it is possible to attach a housingcontaining a drive mechanism (such as a small reversible motor) to aconvenient portion of each of the desk trays. Each of the desk trayswould otherwise be constructed as heretofore described, the motor oneach tray being connected through a suitable gear train to a third shaft(i.e., besides shafts 150 and 152) extending from the bottom of the desktray at a point near the rearmost of the guiding shafts 152 on saidtray, said third shaft projecing downwardly into the guiding slot inwhich said tray rides. Fixed on the end of the third shaft may be eithera gear or a suitable friction surface which, in the normal position ofsaid shaft, will be biased against a corresponding toothed or frictionsurface either lining one side wall of the guiding slot or located inclose proximity thereto. In other words, the system may include a rackand gear or a similar combination of friction elements. When the motoris turned on, the motor will be operative, through the connecting geartrain, to rotate the third shaft and accordingly to drive the desk traysin either direction along the guiding slots in the desk top. A powerwire con- 5 nected to the motor may pass through the guiding slot in thedesk top to a suitable power source.

Alternatively, the motor housing may be supported from the underside ofeach desk tray by suitable means such as means securing it to shafts and152, with a pinion or friction wheel on the motor shaft extendingupwardly toward the guiding slot and engaging the rack or frictionsurface as before described, to produce movement of each of the desktrays.

By means of either of the last-mentioned drive mechanisms, the deskstructure may be considerably simplified, the slide bars, slidesupports, drive Wires, etc., being completely obviated.

The numerous advantages of the instant desk should be immediatelyapparent. For the first time, a really simple and easily operated deskis provided for use by those who are physically handicapped to an extentthat conventional desks are not .appropriate for their use. The novelfeatures of the invention permit use of a desk by a person who has lostcontrol of leg and body movement 53 but still retains some control andmovement of at least one hand and forearm. The desk is compact andprovides the operator with means to perform numerous operations atmerely the flick of a button.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A combination comprising: a desk having a top; at least one desk traysituated on said desk top; means for moving each said desk tray from aposition on said desk top remote from the front portion thereof toasecond position adjacent said front portion; said means including guidemeans in the form of a through-slot in said desk top, said through-slotbeing formed to provide a predetermined path of movement for said trayfrom said remote position towards said second position, saidthrough-slot being arcuate at least for a portion of its length; slidemeans on the underside of said desk top having thereon a slide memberadapted to slide freely along said slide means, said slide member beingprovided with a member having an elongated slot extending at asubstantial angle to said slide means, said desk tray having aprojection attached thereto which passes through said through-slot andrides in said elongated slot of said member, said slide means being sosituated relative to said through slot in the desk top that when saidslide member is moved along the length of said slide means, saidprojection remains in said longitudinally slotted member and follows thepath of said through slot substantially throughout its length.

2. A desk combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said slide member isremotely operable.

l 3. A desk combination as defined in claim l, comprismg a plurality ofdesk trays, operable independently.

4. A desk combination as recited in claim 3 additionally including: anaperture in the desk top; a telephone support shaft extending from apoint beneath said desk top through said aperture to .a point above saiddesk top, the end of said support shaft above said top supporting atelephone unit remotely from the user of said desk; and remotelyoperable means beneath said desk top for movmg said support shaft upthrough said aperture and for moving said telephone unit upwardly andlaterally towards said user of said desk as said shaft moves up throughsaid aperture.

5. A combination comprising: a desk having a top; at leastone desk traysituated on said desk top; means for movmg each said desk tray from aposition on said desk topremote `from the front portion thereof to asecond posltlon adjacent said front portion; said means includmg guidemeans associated with said desk top `formed to provlde an arcuatepredetermined path of movement for said tray; and remotely controlledmeans operatively associated with said guide means for moving said trayfrom said remote position towards said second position; a recessed areain said desk top near the front edge thereof to accommodate the lapboardof a wheel chair, the pontion of said desk top at one side of said rstrecessed area being further lrecessed in a direction towards the lbaokof said desk top; and a panel fitting in and substantially filling saidfurther recessed area, the top surface of said panel being normallyflush with the top surface of said desk top, said panel being pivotallysecured to said -desk top to per-mit entry into said further recessedarea of a wheel chair control box and the hand of an operator of saidwheel chair.

6. A desk combination as recited in claim 5, additionally including: anaperture in said desk top, and a telephone support shaft extendingthrough said aperture from a point beneath said desk top to a pointabove said desk top; said support shaft supporting a telephone u-nitabove said desk, said unit normally being located remote from said rst-recessed area when in position adjacent the desk top; and remotelyoperable means beneath said desk top for moving said support shaft upthrough said aperture and -for moving said telephone unit laterally andupwardly towards the desk-user seated at said rst recessed area.

7. A desk combination comprising: a desk top and spaced means forsupporting said desk top, with knee space between said support meansbelow at least one side of said desk top, thereby providing a mainWorking area on said desk top along said side thereof above said kneespace; a control panel on said desk top adjacent said main working areafor operation by a user seated at said one side of .the desk; anaperture in said` desk top at one side of said main working area; amovable support member extending through said aperture with its lowerend beneath said desk top and its upper end above said desk top; atelephone unit supported at the upper end of said support member, saidtelephone unit Inormally being near the top of the desk when saidsupport member is at its lower position; means beneath said -desk top-for moving said support member so that said telephone unit rises fromsaid desk top and also moves side-ways in the direction of said mainworking area to a predetermined extent, Ywhereby said telephone unit isdisplaced to a position adjacent the head of a user of the desk, throughoperation of said control panel; said means including a slide mountedvertically in a plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane passingthrough said aperture, a slide support slidably mounted on said slide,with said telephone support member being a rod pivotally mounted on saidslide support `for angular movement away from said vertical slide in adirection toward said main Working area of the desk as said telephonesupport member rises.

8, A desk combination as defined in claim 7, wherein: the upper portionof said telephone support rod rests against a pulley wheel which islocated so as to avoid frictional contact between said rod and the sides0f said aperture throughout the range of vertical and sidewise movementof said telephone support rod.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 9,783Persey June 14, 1853 519,630 Hogg May 8, 1894 734,817 Cavanagh July 28,1903 776,355 Selander Nov. 29, 1904 1,818,606 Burks Aug. 11, 19312,288,822 -McCarron July 7, 1942 2,621,995 Zenner Dec. 16, 19522,633,398 McAllister Mar. 31, 1953 2,669,790 Wells Feb. 23, 19542,861,857 Lee Nov. 25, 1958 2,875,012 Riley Feb. 24, 1959 2,888,306Sease May 26, 1959

